The Spread of Coronavirus: Eastern Europe Prepares for the Inevitable
#International #Europe #Coronavirus #Health #Poland #Hungary

Many countries in Eastern Europe are taking drastic measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 -- in part because their health-care systems may not be up to the task․

Poland Is Home to Over 100 "LGBT-Free" Communities
#International #Europe #Poland #Homosexuality #HumanRights

Towns and cities in eastern Poland have been mobilizing against the LGBT+ community for some time․ The culture war is an indicator of just how divided the country has become․

Did European Leaders Cave to Hungary and Poland to Reach a Deal?
#International #Europe #EuropeanUnion #Coronavirus #Hungary #Poland

Despite undermining the rule of law in their countries, the leaders of Poland and Hungary were spared when the EU pushed through its landmark coronavirus recovery package․ Now, it’s up to the European Parliament to decide whether it wants to increase the pressure․

EU Commission Vice President on the Rule of Law in Europe: "The Condition of Hungary's media Landscape Is Alarming"
#International #Europe #EuropeanUnion #Hungary #Poland

For the first time ever, the European Commission is examining the state of rule of law in each EU member state․ Věra Jourová discusses weaknesses in Germany and serious concerns elsewhere․

EU Budget Battle: Brussels Prepares for a Protracted Fight with Poland and Hungary
#International #Europe #EuropeanUnion #Coronavirus #Hungary #Poland

By vetoing the EU budget, Hungary and Poland have plunged the bloc into a crisis and heaped pressure on Angela Merkel to find a solution․ Brussels, though, might have a way to turn the tables․

Adam Nergal Darski: The Rock Star on the Front Lines of Poland's Culture War
#International #Europe #Poland #Homosexuality #EuropeanUnion

The organization Ordo Iuris is fighting against abortion and homosexuality in Poland․ The country's most famous rock star has taken aim at the group in this story of a deeply divided land․

Poland's Judges Are Fighting To Save Rule of Law and Their Own Jobs
#International #Europe #Poland #EuropeanUnion

Jarosław Kaczyński, who holds the levers of power in the Polish government, is well on his way to turning the country into an autocracy․ Just one thing stands in his way: a few courageous judges․ They are the subject of systematic harassment and are desperately waiting for help from the EU․

Stranded on the EU External Border: Poland Turns to Questionable Methods to Turn Back Migrants
#International #Europe #EuropeanRefugeeCrisis #AsylumandMigration #EuropeanUnion #Belarus #Poland

Five migrants have already died on the Belarusian border as they try to enter Poland․ Warsaw, though, has shown zero sympathy for their plight and continues to do all they can to prevent refugees from entering․

Europe's Brutal and Illegal Approach to Migration: "Our Orders Are Clear․ Nobody Gets Through"
#International #Europe #AsylumandMigration #Integration #EuropeanRefugeeCrisis #EuropeanUnion #Greece #Poland

Months of reporting has revealed the violent – and illegal – brutality the EU is deploying at its external borders to ward off migrants․ Those few refugees who make it through describe beatings, harassment and abasement․ Yet there are examples of what a humane migration policy could look like․

Troubling Addiction: The World Is Failing To Phase Out Coal
#International #Business #Coal #Environment #RenewableEnergy #GermanEnergyRevolution #China #Poland #ClimateChange

It is the most CO2 intensive of all fuels and yet consumption of it is rising dramatically, regardless of the climate crisis․ We’re burning coal like there is no tomorrow․ Why is it proving so difficult to phase out?